AL PORTER SEX PEST STORM: TV3 PULLS BLIND DATE
...and star takes break from Today FM
COMEDIAN Al Porter was in crisis talks yesterday to save his radio, TV and stage career amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
TV3’s Blind Date presenter, who also has a daily radio programme on Today FM and is the star of the Olympia Theatre annual pantomime, is using top libel lawyer Paul Tweed.
He has agreed with Today FM to step aside from his lunchtime slot temporarily – and TV3 confirmed that it pulled a repeat of his ratings hit Blind Date from last night’s TV schedules.
These developments come as the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal panto chiefs are actively considering whether it is viable to allow Mr Porter to
continue as the face of the panto – a traditional centrepiece of many families’ Christmas.
Mr Tweed is a Belfast-based solicitor who has successfully represented Louis Walsh and Justin Timberlake in civil cases. He is understood to have advised Mr Porter to keep his counsel on specific allegations.
Crucially, the MoS can reveal that there is a clause in the DJ’s radio contract stipulating that he can face immediate dismissal should he bring the firm into disrepute.
Mr Porter’s Today FM contract is believed to be worth €140,000 per year for his afternoon slot on the commercial station. He is one of the station’s stars, with more than 123,000 listeners tuning in daily.
A source close to him told the MoS: ‘Al is extremely upset at the recent claims. He has sought legal advice and will see what comes out in the media over the weekend before deciding on what statement, if any, he will be making. A lot has been claimed online but that does not mean any or all of it is true.’
But despite the unsubstantiated nature of the claims, Mr Porter was yesterday left grappling with the fallout which threatened to put a stop to his meteoric rise in the Irish entertainment world.
A statement from Today FM yesterday confirmed Mr Porter is stepping aside from his day job.
‘In light of recent events, Today FM and Al Porter have agreed that Al will take some personal time from his lunchtime radio show,’ the statement read.
‘No further comment will be made by Today FM at this time.’
The company had initially confirmed on Friday that it was aware of the allegations and that it had spoken to Mr Porter about them.
Meanwhile, TV3 chiefs also face a dilemma. Six more episodes of Blind Date – a hugely popular programme with an audience of more than 250,000 – filmed by TV3 over the summer months are yet to be broadcast.
They are due to be broadcast in the new year. However it remains to be seen if that goes ahead.
The show was on a break this weekend but the MoS has learned that a repeat of last week’s show, scheduled to be aired last night was replaced at the last minute.
According to a senior TV3 source, the repeat was on the system on Saturday morning but by the afternoon a version of a celebrity reality TV show had taken its place.
It is understood that a number of advertisers raised concerns over the repeat and a decision was made to remove it from the line-up.
A spokesman for Cadbury Ireland – which sponsors Blind Date – denied that the chocolate maker had asked for the show to be pulled, adding that it is a ‘matter for TV3 and for Al Porter’s employers’.
But he said Cadbury’s is aware of the situation and is monitoring it.
A TV3 spokeswoman confirmed last night that the repeat was pulled due to the allegations, but wouldn’t be drawn on future broadcasts.
‘TV3 is aware of the allegations made against Al Porter. TV3 takes any allegations of this nature very seriously and decided it would be inappropriate to broadcast the repeat of the final episode of Blind Date scheduled for this evening. TV3 has no further comment to make at this time,’ she said.
Concerns were also raised over the panto dame’s role as the frontman for the Olympia Theatre’s Christmas show. An insider said a decision has yet to be made over his involvement in a show that also stars RTÉ’s Dustin the Turkey.
Should the situation deteriorate, panto managers and investors could push for him to be removed from the line-up.
‘A conversation has been had about Al’s future,’ said the insider. ‘No decision has been made but if things get worse, then there will be no alternative but to ask for him to be dropped from the line-up.’
Attempts to contact Karl Spain, the panto’s producer and co-writer, proved fruitless yesterday. The panto PR company did not return numerous requests for comment.
‘A lot has been claimed, doesn’t mean it’s true’ ‘Conversation has been had, no decision made’